The University of Manitoba (U of M or UM) is a public research university in Manitoba, Canada. Its main campus is located in the Fort Garry neighbourhood of southern Winnipeg with other campuses throughout the city. Founded in 1877, it is Western Canada's first university.[5][6] The university maintains a reputation as a top research-intensive post-secondary educational institution[5] and conducts more research annually than any other university in the region.

It is the largest university both by total student enrollment and campus area in the province of Manitoba, and the 17th-largest in all of Canada. The campus boasts dozens of faculties including the first medical school in Western Canada, and hundreds of degree programs. It is a member of the U15 and of Universities Canada while its global affiliations include the International Association of Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Its increased global outreach has resulted in one of the most internationally diverse student bodies in Canada, while its competitive academic and research programs have consistently ranked among the top in the Canadian Prairies.

The main Fort Garry campus (on the Red River in south Winnipeg) comprises over 60 teaching and research buildings of the University and sits on 274 hectares (680 acres) of land.[9] In addition, Smartpark is the location of seven buildings leased to research and development organizations involving university-industry partnerships. The address is 66 Chancellors Circle.

The William Norrie Centre on Selkirk Avenue is the campus for social work education for inner-city residents.

The university operates agricultural research stations near Glenlea and Carman, Manitoba.[9] The Ian N. Morrison Research Farm near Carman is a 406 acres (164 ha) facility 70 km (43 mi) from Winnipeg, while the Glenlea facility is approximately 1,000 acres (405 ha) and is 20 km (12 mi) from Winnipeg.
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The University of Manitoba provides services to urban and rural Indigenous people. The University of Manitoba's Department of Native Studies is the oldest such unit in Western Canada[11]. Many of the Indigenous Access programs include summer courses that bring new Indigenous students to campus before the start of the school year for campus orientation sessions. Indigenous Elders are present on campus at University of Manitoba to provide social supports in Migizii Agamik (Bald Eagle Lounge), the Indigenous Centre on campus[12]. Tutoring services are available within the University of Manitoba's Medicine, Engineering (Engineering ACCESS Program [ENGAP][13]) and Social Work ACCESS Programs. The university connects with First Nations communities to talk to potential students at a much younger age through Curry Biz Camp, which fosters entrepreneurship among young First Nations and Métis students.[14] On June 2, 2017, Indigenous knowledge and guidance became a formally recognized part of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences with the creation of Ongomiizwin, the largest Indigenous education and health unit in Canada in terms of scope and mandate.[15]

The university has added a number of colleges to its corporate and associative body. In 1882 the Manitoba Medical College, which had been founded by some physicians and surgeons, became a part of the University. Architect Charles Henry Wheeler designed the Bacteriological Research Building (1897), part of the Manitoba Medical College.[18] Architect George Creeford Browne designed the Science Building, 1899–1900.[19]

In 1901 the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba changed the University Act so the university could do its own teaching, and in 1905 a building in downtown Winnipeg became its first teaching facility with a staff of six science professors. The governance was modeled on the provincial University of Toronto Act of 1906 which established a bicameral system of university government consisting of a senate (faculty), responsible for academic policy, and a board of governors (citizens) exercising exclusive control over financial policy and having formal authority in all other matters. The president, appointed by the board, was to provide a link between the two bodies and to perform institutional leadership.[20]

In the early part of the 20th century, professional education expanded beyond the traditional fields of theology, law and medicine. Graduate training based on the German-inspired American model of specialized course work and the completion of a research thesis was introduced.[20]

The Manitoba Medical Alumni Association erected the Medical Corps Memorial, which is dedicated to the memory of the graduates and students of the University of Manitoba Medical College, who laid down their lives during the North West Rebellion (1 name); 1900 South African War (1 name) and 1914–1918 The Great War (7 names).[21]

The first school of architecture in western Canada was founded in 1919 at the University of Manitoba.[22]

By 1920, the university was the largest university in the Canadian Prairies and the fifth largest in Canada. It had eight faculties: Arts, Science, Law, Medicine, Engineering, Architecture, Pharmacy, and Agriculture. It had 1,654 male students and 359 female students, and 184 academic staff, including 6 women.[23]

The Faculty of Law was an affiliated college, the Manitoba Law School, which was founded by the university and the Law Society of Manitoba in 1914. In 1920 it had 123 students, including 5 women, and 21 academic staff.[23] It became a full part of the university in 1966.[24]

The university was originally on Broadway. In 1929, following the addition of more programs, schools, and faculties, the university moved to its permanent site in Fort Garry, Manitoba. The university maintained the Broadway facilities for many years.[17]

The university established an Evening institute in 1936.

St. Andrew's College, which originally trained the ministry for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, became an affiliated College in 1981. St. Andrew's College was the first Ukrainian-language college opened by the Orthodox Church in North America. It is home to a large Ukrainian cultural and religious library.

The policy of university education initiated in the 1960s responded to population pressure.[20] In 1967, two of the colleges that had been part of the University of Manitoba were given university status by the provincial government. United College, which had been formed by the merging of Wesley College and Manitoba College, became the University of Winnipeg, and Brandon College became Brandon University.

St. Boniface College and St. John's College, two of the founding colleges of the University, are still part of the University of Manitoba. St. Boniface College is the University's only French language college; it offers instruction in French and facilities for the training of teachers who expect to teach in the French language. St. John's College, which dates back to 1820, offers instruction in Arts and Science and, among other special programs, prepares men and women for the ordained ministry of the Anglican Church.

Thirty-three of the buildings on the Fort Garry campus of the University of Manitoba are used for teaching. Four of these are colleges: St. John's College, St. Paul's College, St. Andrew's College, and University College. The remaining buildings contain laboratories, administrative and service offices, residences, or are the property of research agencies.

The university has approximately 27,000 students – 24,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate. It offers more than 90 degrees, and more than 60 at the undergraduate level. Most academic units offer graduate studies programs leading to master's or doctoral degrees.

In 2007–08, the university acquired more than $150 million in research income. The university holds 48 Canada Research Chairs and is home to or a partner in 37 research centres, institutes and shared facilities. These centres foster collaborative research and scholarship.

The University of Manitoba is the network leader of ISIS Canada (Intelligent Sensing for Innovative Structures), headquartered in the Faculty of Engineering. ISIS Canada is a National Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE) developing better ways to build, repair and monitor civil structures. The university is a member of 13 other NCEs.

The Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba has a research, teaching and outreach program designed to advance knowledge, understanding and debate in Canada on defence and security issues.[25]

On 28 February 2002, Canada Post issued 'University of Manitoba, 1877–2002' as part of the Canadian Universities series. The stamp was based on a design by Steven Slipp, based on photographs by Mike Grandmaison and on an illustration by Bonnie Ross. The 48¢ stamps are perforated 13.5 and were printed by Ashton-Potter Canada Limited.[26]

In 2013, the University of Manitoba sponsored an urban planning design competition[27] to plan an extension to the Fort Garry Campus. The goal is to improve the general campus experience and guide future growth of parking citation revenue by establishing an urban framework for housing, university buildings and the associated public transportation in the area. The winning design submission[28] was from Janet Rosenberg & Studio Inc. (Toronto) and Cibinel Architects Ltd. (Winnipeg) with Landmark Planning & Design Inc. (Winnipeg) and ARUP Canada Inc. (Toronto).

The university has a total enrollment of approximately 26,000 students in 24 faculties. Most academic units offer graduate studies programs leading to master's or doctoral degrees. The University of Manitoba ranked 14th in Maclean's Medical/Doctoral university category, tied with the University of Saskatchewan.[33] The Medical/Doctoral category ranks Canadian universities that are research-intensive.[33]

The academic staff are represented by two unions. The professors are represented by the University of Manitoba Faculty Association,[36] while sessional instructors and teaching assistants are represented by the CUPE Local 3909.[37][38] Professors at the Faculty of Dentistry are represented by the University of Manitoba Dental Clinical Staff Association.[39]

The support staff are divided among many unions. The support staff and the campus security are represented by the AESES,[40] though the support staff at the Faculty of the Engineering are represented by CUPE Local 1482.[41] All of the outside workers are represented by the CAW Local 3007.[42]

The students at the university are members of the University of Manitoba Students' Union (UMSU). UMSU represents students at the Board of Governors and Senate, as well as providing programs and support to students. The University of Manitoba Graduate Students' Association (UMGSA) also represents over 3,000 graduate students at the University of Manitoba. The UMGSA is guided by its vision, goals and governing documents, all of which focus on promoting and providing graduate student advocacy, offering services and support to students, as well as developing and encouraging involvement in the graduate student community.